Cyclists promote safety in remembrance ride

The weather may have not been ideal, but the message stood strong: Cyclists need to think safety and drivers need to pay attention, too.

Riders from across Vermont participated in the Ride of Remembrance on Wednesday night. It honors cyclists killed on Vermont roads.

One of the 13 rides planned in the Green Mountain State kicked off at Earl’s Cyclery and Fitness in South Burlington.

An orange sign there says, “Warning, good times ahead.” While it’s a gimmick on the familiar caution sign, the message is clear: Cycling is fun, but you have to be safe.

“There's really no argument not to wear a helmet,” said Roger Frey, Earl’s owner.

There’s no law requiring adults to wear helmets while on a bike in Vermont, New Hampshire or New York, though New York requires children between 1-14 years old to wear helmets. Motorcyclists in Vermont and New York are required to wear helmets by law. There is no motorcycle helmet law in New Hampshire.

The most recent data available on car and bike crashes in Vermont comes from 2009. In 109 reported crashes there were no fatalities, but 17 riders received incapacitating injuries. Twenty-two were not injured at all.

The data also show a trend in crashes. They occur most during sunny days and in the afternoon. Friday was the day with the most accidents involving bikes.

For Frey, he knows what it’s like to be in an accident. He was hit by a car in 1982.

“I got kind of winged,” he said. He was thrown in a field and walked away with some bruises.

Frey recommends wearing a helmet and reflective clothing. He said put reflectors and mount a mirror on your bike before heading out.

It’s all about sharing the road, he said, something we hear so often.

“We need certainly the cooperation of all of us who drive motor vehicles to certainly give us a little space,” Frey said.

The Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition said bikers should be treated as cars when on the road. That means riders should obey all traffic laws, and cars should be aware of all traffic.